JP5495588B2 - Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and image reading system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads an image in accordance with a reading setting designated by the information processing apparatus, an image reading method performed by the image reading apparatus and the information processing apparatus, and an image including the image reading apparatus and the information processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a reading system.

  In recent years, with the increase in network-compatible devices including home appliances, communication protocols for devices on a network, device discovery mechanisms, and device installation mechanisms have been standardized. The specifications of various services such as printers (printing) and scanners (image reading) as image processing apparatuses are no exception. Furthermore, standard communication protocols for using network devices more universally from client PCs and services for using devices more easily are standardized. For example, there are WSD (WEB SERVICE FOR DEVICES) and UPnP (UNIVERSAL PLUG & PLAY) (registered trademark).

  WSD is a standard specification defined to answer various service requests using devices. Basically, a web service architecture is used to provide a standardized communication protocol group, a print service, and a scan service. WSD uses a group of standard communication protocols on the network for enabling mutual connection between devices based on the WEB service. As components of a WEB service for devices, specifications such as device discovery (DISCOVERY), device information presentation (DESCRIPTION), device control (CONTROL), and device event notification (EVENTING) are defined.

  In addition, device drivers can be easily installed on PnP-X compatible client PCs using the PnP-X (PLUG AND PLAY EXTENSIONS) service proposed by MICROSOFT for devices connected via the network. .

  Also, the conventional PnP (PLUG AND PLAY) service is a function that works when each device and client PC are directly connected to various local I / O ports with cables or connectors. In PnP, a device transmits a model name (device ID), a manufacturer name (vendor ID), a serial number, and the like to a host PC. By referring to the received information, the host PC can automatically install a device driver for using the device on the client.

  The scan service is defined by SCANSERVICEDEFINITION V1.0 FOR WSD.

  These services provide interoperability between a client PC that uses the scan service and a scanner device that provides scanning by the scan service.

  In the standard scan service of WSD, various commands and various events for using the scan service are defined by a language based on a format compliant with WSD. Furthermore, two forms of pull scan and push scan are defined as scan forms. In either form, image processing (scanning) is executed by the image processing apparatus in accordance with an event request command issued by the client PC. Pull scanning is a form in which image processing (scanning) is performed by issuing an event request command from a client PC. On the other hand, push scan is a form in which an event request command is issued from a client PC and image processing (scanning) is performed, triggered by transmission of a push scan event start command instructed by a user from a button or the like on the image processing apparatus. is there.

  Here, there is Patent Literature 1 as a technique for recognizing a service that can be provided by a device connected to a client PC. According to the data processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the equipment information acquisition unit acquires the presence or absence of various devices such as a hard disk, a finisher, and a double-sided device, and detailed information. It is disclosed that a WSDL file of a data processing device is generated in accordance with the presence / absence of various devices acquired and detailed information, and the generated WSDL file is transmitted to an information processing device. That is, by detecting the presence / absence of connection of various devices and the contents that can be realized by the device and transmitting the information to the client PC, it is possible to recognize the service of the device that the client PC can use.

JP 2005-38016 A

  With the technology of Patent Document 1, in a scanner device that provides a standard scan service of WSD, it is possible to make a client PC recognize a change in service that can be realized by the device depending on the mounting state of various optional devices such as an ADF unit and a film guide Met.

  However, in the WSD scan service, values of various parameters that are individual setting values of the service that can be realized by the scanner are determined on the client PC side. For this reason, no matter how many scan parameters are set by the user on the panel attached to the scanner device during push scan, the scan parameters are not set on the client PC. The scan parameters set by the user could not be reflected.

  That is, the push scan on the WSD protocol has a problem that the scan using the parameters specified by the user cannot be performed.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the information processing apparatus receives information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus transmitted from the image reading apparatus, and receives the information. An image reading apparatus that reads an image according to a reading setting specified from reading settings included in the information by the information processing apparatus, and includes information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus. A first transmission unit that generates and transmits the information to the information processing apparatus, and a selection selected by the user from the plurality of reading settings included in the first information. A second transmission unit configured to generate second information having a reading setting that does not include an unread reading setting as the capability of the image reading apparatus, and to transmit the second information to the information processing apparatus; In having a reading means for reading an image on the basis of the reading in accordance with the specified reading setting instructed by the transmitted second information said information processing apparatus a reading settings contained.

  With the above configuration, according to the present invention, the information processing apparatus can be instructed to perform reading according to the reading setting selected by the user using the image reading apparatus.

It is a hardware configuration schematic diagram of a scanner. It is a software configuration schematic diagram of a scanner. It is a schematic sequence diagram of the conventional push scan. FIG. 4 is a schematic sequence diagram of push scan that summarizes the present invention. FIG. 3 is a basic sequence diagram of push scan that summarizes the present invention. It is a selection screen of various parameters displayed on the display unit 14. FIG. 4 is a schematic sequence diagram of push scan that summarizes the present invention. FIG. 3 is a basic sequence diagram of push scan that summarizes the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the following embodiments, a description will be given using a scanner as an example of an image processing apparatus. The present invention is particularly effective for a scanner or printer conforming to the WSD standard specification, or a multi-function peripheral in which an image processing apparatus such as a scanner or printer is integrally formed. In each of the following embodiments, the image processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of information processing apparatuses (for example, a PC in which WINDOW VISTA is installed as an OS) in a communication network. Assume that WSD commands are transmitted and received.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of information processing apparatuses (PC 1 to 3) and an image processing apparatus (scanner) are connected through, for example, an ETHERNET (registered trademark) cable 18. The image processing apparatus may be a single scanner, or a multi-function machine in which a printer and a fax function are integrated. In the case of a single scanner configuration, although not shown, an image output device such as a printer is connected to the information processing apparatus, and a scanned image can be printed. It is a figure showing the network corresponding | compatible scanner which shows one Embodiment.

  The CPU 11 controls the entire apparatus according to the ROM 12 in which programs such as basic control are written. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for executing a program read from the ROM 12, a buffer for data transmission / reception, and a temporary buffer for image data generated by the reading device 16. A command for executing a scan from the client PC is transmitted to the ETHERNET (registered trademark) controller 17 via a wired LAN network connected by ETHERNET (registered trademark) (common name) defined by IEEE 802.3. . Also, image data is transmitted from the scanner to the client PC. The ETHERNET (registered trademark) controller 17 includes a connector for an ETHERNET (registered trademark) (Ethernet (registered trademark)) cable for supporting wired LAN communication and a controller that controls the interface. An ETHERNET (registered trademark) cable 18 is connected to the connector for communication. A wireless LAN network defined by IEEE802.11A / B / G may be used by adding a wireless LAN compatible PC card and a wireless controller. In the case of supporting the wireless LAN, it is composed of a PC card interface for connecting a PC card for supporting wireless LAN communication.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a scanner that supports a WSD protocol as a scanning service is provided as a communication protocol. The communication protocol system used in WSD, and the request form and response form relating to scanning are defined as standards.

  The ROM 12 stores a program for causing the reading device 16 to perform scanning in accordance with a WSD communication protocol scan service (WSD scan service) which is a standard protocol. The reading device 16 is for reading image data such as a document or a film placed on a document table and generating image data. The reading device 16 includes a scanner head having a reading width corresponding to the maximum readable width, and generates image data by scanning the scanner head. The operation unit 15 is used by the user to give various instructions to the scanner by operating it. The instructions that can be given include, for example, setting of scan parameters (resolution, reading range, contents of image processing, etc.) when the scanner reads the reading medium. Since the scan parameters depend on the specifications of the scanner device, detailed parameters can be set if the scanner device can perform advanced image processing. Conversely, when advanced image processing cannot be performed in the scanner device, part of the image processing may be performed on the PC. In this case, only scan parameters necessary for image processing performed by the PC can be set. In addition, it is possible to set the transmission destination (PC or printer connected to the network) of the read image data. In addition, there is a scanning start operation means (for example, a push scan button) that causes the scanner to perform a reading operation. An instruction for the scanner can be given from a PC or the like via the ETHERNET (registered trademark) controller 17. The display unit 14 is for notifying or displaying various information to the user, and includes an LCD, an LED, or the like. Examples of information to be notified or displayed to the user include a scanner state (scanning state, idle state, etc.) and a screen linked to the operation of the operation unit 15.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the module configuration of the program stored in the ROM 12 of the network compatible scanner showing the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The programs are classified into an application layer 20, a middleware layer 21, and an operation system 22 of the apparatus. At the same time when the operation system 22 is first activated, the OS activation process 29 of the middleware layer 21 is called. The OS activation process sequentially activates necessary modules according to the activation state of the apparatus. The middleware layer 21 performs communication control by interposing between the operation system 22 and the application layer 20 module group. The LAN driver 30, the TCP / IP module 27, and the UDP module 28 of the middleware layer 21 control the ETHERNET (registered trademark) controller 17 to perform communication via TCP / IP and UDP. The application layer 20 includes a scanning module 23, an HTTP module 24, an XML analysis module 25, and a WSD protocol module 26. In general, the network setting including the scanner IP address and the like can be performed not only from the operation unit 15 but also by starting the WEB browser of the client PC via the network and accessing the scanner. The HTTP module 24 is used for both the management as a WEB server for setting and the HTTP communication defined by WSD. The XML analysis module 25 is used for WSD communication, and is used for analysis of received data such as SOAP-OVER-UDP communication.

  Hereinafter, a scanning method in the WSD scan service will be described. First, a conventional scan method for push scan defined in the WSD scan service will be described. Thereafter, a method of performing a push scan with user-specified scan parameters will be described.

<Description of conventional push scan>
First, a conventional push scan in the WSD scan service will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of a conventional push scan. Prior to using the scan service, the client PC sends a scanner element acquisition request command to the scanner in advance for acquiring the capability of the scanner in advance as the first information by the first transmission means. (Step S301). This scanner element acquisition request command (GETSCANNERELEMENTS REQUEST) is issued when the client PC installs the scanner, or when the client PC and the scanner become capable of network communication. When the scanner receives the scanner element acquisition request command of the client PC, the scanner generates first information as the image processing capability that the scanner itself has in advance. The image forming capability includes, for example, scanning performance specifications such as scanner status, scanner output resolution, document type, and reading range. This first information is generated as a scanner element acquisition response command (GETSCANNERELEMENTSRESPONSE) using a predetermined language conforming to WSD, and transmitted to the client PC using the first transmission means. (Step S302). Upon receiving this response command, the client PC can know the performance of the scan service provided by the scanner. The scan service information is stored and held in a storage unit such as a memory or HDD existing on the client PC.

  Now, the user goes to the image processing apparatus (scanner), places, for example, A4 size paper as a scan target on the document table, and presses a button for executing push scan by operating the operation unit 15 on the image processing apparatus. To do. When the button is pressed, the scanner transmits a push scan event (SCANAVAILABLEEVENT) to the client PC as an event request command transmission for requesting an event start command which is a scan start command (step S303).

  The client PC that has received the push scan event in step S303 issues a scan request command (CREATESCANJOBREQUEST) as an event start command transmission that is a scan start command to the scanner (step S304). This command is a command to start scanning using scan parameters arbitrarily selected within the range of the scanning performance specification of the scanner described in the first information held in the holding means by the client PC in step S302. is there.

  The scanner that has received the scan request in step S304 confirms whether or not scanning is possible according to the scan parameters included in the scan request command, and whether or not scanning can be started. ) Is returned. For example, the reading device 16 starts scanning at this point. If the scan is impossible, a FAULT response is returned (step S305).

  The client PC that has received the scan response command in step S305 issues an image acquisition request command (RETRIEVEIMAGEREQUEST) to the scanner (step S306).

  Upon receiving the image acquisition request in step S306, the scanner returns an image acquisition response command (RETRIEVEIMAGERESPONSE) to the client PC and transmits the image data (step S307).

<Explanation of Push Scan Explaining the Present Invention>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8, a method for performing a push scan with a user-specified scan parameter in the WSD scan service will be described.

  As described above, the conventional push scan of the WSD scan service performs a scan according to the scan parameter included in the scan request command. In the push scan, the scan is started by an operation from the scanner side, so that the user cannot select a desired scan parameter from the application on the client PC as in the pull scan. Further, since the scan parameter cannot be notified to the client PC by the push scan event, the scan parameter desired by the user cannot be selected on the scanner side. (Even if selected, it cannot be reflected in the scan request command.) In other words, in the conventional push scan in the WSD scan service, it is impossible to scan with a user-desired scan parameter. Therefore, in the push scan that summarizes the present invention, the push scan is performed with the scan parameters desired by the user by using the scanner element change event as follows. The scanner element change event is an event used in the WSD scan service, and is used when the scanner capability acquired in step S301 in FIG. 3 is changed. As a conventional use example, there is a case where an optional unit capable of duplex scanning is additionally mounted on a scanner device. At this time, a scanner element change event is issued. The scanner element change event is updated by rewriting service description information held on the client PC to change that the scanner capability has changed from single-sided scanning to double-sided scanning.

  Before the push scan event is transmitted, a scanner element change event serving as second information is generated by the second generation unit using the scan parameters set by the user on the scanner, and transmitted by the second transmission unit. Thereby, the scan parameter arbitrarily designated by the scan request command from the client PC is limited to the scan parameter. In the push scan according to the present invention, the client PC recognizes that the scan performance of the scanner is only the scan parameter designated by the user, and the push scan with the scan parameter desired by the user is realized.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of the push scan that summarizes the present invention. Steps S501 to S502 are the same as steps S301 to S302 described with reference to FIG.

  Now, the user goes to the scanner, places, for example, A4 size paper as a scan target on the document table, and selects a desired scan parameter on the scanner. Subsequently, a scan start button is pressed. When the scan start button is pressed, the scanner first generates a scanner element change event serving as second information to reflect the scan parameter selected by the user in the scan request command, and transmits it to the client PC by the second transmission means. (Step S503). In the event notification in step S503, the scanner notifies the client PC, which is the push scan destination, of the change of the scan capability as if the capability of itself is only the scan parameter selected by the user. At this time, only the push scan destination client PC specified by the user recognizes that the scanner scan performance (supported scan parameter values / ranges) has changed, and updates the scan performance value stored in the storage area. To do. Since the scan performance change notification is not transmitted to other clients and PCs connected to the network, the scanner performance is not changed to the scan parameter selected by the user. Subsequently, an event request command that is a request for a scan request, that is, a push scan event (SCANAVAILABLEEVENT) is issued to the client PC that is the push scan destination (step S504).

  The client PC that has received the push scan event in step S504 issues a scan request command (CREATESCANJOBREQUEST) as an event start command for instructing the start of image processing (step S505). This command includes scan parameters arbitrarily selected by the client PC within the range of the scan performance specification. Therefore, the scan parameter included in this scan request command is the scan parameter specified by the user as the scanner support value / range updated by the scanner element change event sent by the client PC, that is, the second information. Value is set.

  The scanner that has received the scan request command in step S505 confirms whether or not scanning is possible according to the scan parameters included in the scan request command, and whether or not scanning can be started. CREATESCANJOBRESPONSE) is returned. For example, the reading device 16 starts scanning at this point. If scanning is impossible, a FAULT response is returned (step S506).

  The client PC that has received the scan response command in step S506 issues an image acquisition request command (RETRIEVEIMAGEREQUEST) to the scanner (step S507).

  Upon receiving the image acquisition request in step S507, the scanner returns a data response command (RETRIEVEIMAGERESPONSE) to the client PC and transmits the image data (step S508).

The operation of the scanner at the time of push scanning that summarizes the present invention will be described in detail using an actual command name by the basic sequence of FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that three PCs PC1, PC2, and PC3 are connected to the scanner, and the scanner has already been installed in each PC. In the following embodiment, the PC1 will be described as a client PC. . Further, it is assumed that the scanner can scan with the following scan parameters as scan performance. Resolution: (1) 150 DPI, (2) 300 DPI. Document type: (1) TEXT, (2) PHOTO. (In this embodiment, only two parameters of resolution and document type will be described.)
First, when network communication is established between the client PC and the scanner, the client PC issues a scanner element acquisition request command (step S601). Here, the scanner reads the scan parameters (resolution: (1) 150 dpi, (2) 300 dpi, document type: (1) TEXT, (2) PHOTO) supported by itself from the ROM 12 and reads them in the scanner element acquisition response command. A command including the scanned parameters is generated and returned (step S602). Similarly, PC2 and PC3 issue a scanner element acquisition request command to acquire the scanning performance of the scanner. At this time, the PCs 1 to 3 are in a state where the scanner recognizes that the resolution supports 150 DPI and 300 DPI, and the document type supports TEXT and PHOTO.

  Here, in order to execute the push scan, the user operates the operation unit 15 while viewing the screen displayed on the display unit 14 of the scanner and presses the scan shift button (step S603). When the scanner is shifted to the push scan mode by a user operation, a push scan destination selection screen is first displayed on the display unit 14. PC1, PC2, and PC3 are displayed on the push scan destination selection screen (FIG. 6A). Here, it is assumed that the user selects PC1 (client PC) as the transmission destination (step S604). When PC1 (client PC) is selected, a scan parameter setting screen is displayed on the display unit 14 subsequently. On the scan parameter selection screen, resolution (150 dpi, 300 dpi) (FIG. 6B) and document type (TEXT, PHOTO) (FIG. 6C) are displayed as selectable scan parameters. Here, it is assumed that the resolution: 300 dpi (common to width and height) and the document type: TEXT are selected by the user operation (step S605). At this time, the scan parameters (resolution: 300 dpi, document type: TEXT) selected by the user are temporarily stored in the RAM 13. When the user presses the scan start button (step S606), the scanner first reads the scan parameters temporarily stored in the RAM 13, generates the read parameters included in the scanner element change event, and notifies the client PC. (Step S607) Subsequently, a push scan event which is a request for a scan request is notified to the client PC (Step S608). The scanner element change event in step S607 is notified only to the PC 1 (client PC) that is the push scan destination. In this event, “the resolution supports only 300 dpi and the document type supports only TEXT” is described in a language conforming to the WSD format. The client PC that has received this event recognizes that the scanner is a device that supports only 300 dpi for resolution and that supports only TEXT for the document type. In other words, the client PC recognizes the scan performance that is different from the original scan performance (supported scan parameter value / range) as the scan performance of the scanner due to the scanner element change event. Become. On the other hand, PC2 and PC3 are still in a state where the scanner still recognizes that the resolution supports 150 dpi and 300 dpi and the document type supports TEXT and PHOTO.

  The client PC that has received the push scan event issues a scan request command instructing the start of image processing (step S609). The scan parameter specified by this scan request command is arbitrarily selected from the values and ranges of scan parameters supported by the scanner. As described above, the client PC recognizes that the scanner currently supports only 300 dpi resolution and only TEXT as the document type based on the scanner element change event received in step S607. Therefore, the scan request command includes scan parameters designated as resolution: 300 dpi and document type: TEXT.

  The scanner that has received the scan request command determines whether or not scanning with the requested scan parameter is possible, and further determines whether or not scanning is possible. If scanning is possible by this determination, a scan response command is returned (OK response), and scanning with the specified scan parameters by the reading device 16 is started. If scanning is impossible, a FAULT response (NG response) is made (step S610. When the client PC receives the scan response command (OK response) as a response to the scan request command, it subsequently issues an image acquisition request command (step S610). In step S611, the scanned image data is requested to the scanner, and if a FAULT response (NG response) is received in response to the scan request command, the subsequent processing is interrupted, and the scan is not executed.

  The scanner that has received the image acquisition request command sequentially transmits the image data generated by the reading device 16 to the client PC (step S612). In this embodiment, image data is sequentially transmitted. However, when a scan request or an image acquisition request is received, one page of image data is generated, and the image data is collected and sent to the client PC. The image data transmission method is not particularly limited. The client PC that has received the image data stores the image data in a storage area such as an HDD.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the WSD scan service, by notifying the client PC so that the performance of the scanner device is limited by the user-specified scan parameter, the client PC side only uses the user-specified scan parameter. The scan request command cannot be issued. As a result, push scans using scan parameters specified by the user are possible. Further, since the scanner element change event is not transmitted to the PCs other than the push scan destination (PC2, PC3), the scan parameter set by the user does not affect the scan request command from the PC other than the push scan destination.

  In this embodiment, the scan parameters that can be specified by the user are described as being only the resolution and the document type, but the present invention is not limited to this. All of the scan parameters defined by the WSD scan service may be designated, or scan parameters that are not defined may be designated.

  Further, all of the scan parameter values designated by the user in the scanner element change event may be notified, or a part thereof may be notified. In the case of scanning using the WSD scan service, the client PC may specify all of the scan parameters defined by the WSD scan service to the device or only a part of the scan parameters. For example, sharpness (outline emphasis), compression quality value (degree of compression when generating a compressed image format such as a JPEG image), etc. may not be specified. In that case, it is possible that not all the scan parameters designated by the user need to be notified. For example, when it is known in advance that the instruction of sharpness is not designated by the client PC, it is not necessary to notify the client PC by a scanner element change event. In such a case, since it is not necessary to notify all parameters, there is a further effect that network traffic can be reduced.

  Furthermore, during the push scan process, other jobs (scan request commands other than the scan request command at the time of push scan transmitted by the push scan destination client PC) may not be accepted. At this time, another job may be prevented from receiving a FAULT response to the scan request command. Further, it may be configured such that a user operation on the operation unit of the scanner is not accepted and the push scan cannot be continuously performed. The exclusive timing for not accepting other jobs may be when the scanner element change event is transmitted or when the push scan event is transmitted. Further, it may be at the time of scan response command transmission or at the start of scanning.

  Further, after the transmission of the scanner element change event, the response command to the scanner element acquisition request command from the same destination client PC may respond with the scan performance reflected by reading the scan parameter previously specified by the user from the RAM 13. . As a result, it is not necessary to set a scan parameter each time for a user who always uses the same client PC and performs a push scan operation with the same parameters, and an improvement in operability can be expected. Furthermore, the user may specify scan parameters not only from the scanner operation unit 15 but also by starting up a WEB browser of the client PC via the network, accessing the scanner, specifying, and setting. Also in this case, the scan parameters set by the WEB browser are stored in the RAM 13 and notified to the client PC by the above-described operation.

  Further, the image processing apparatus sends the image data to the client PC and simultaneously transmits the image data to an output device (printer) provided in the image processing apparatus or a network printer connected to the network and designated in advance by the user. Also good. In this way, output results can be obtained simultaneously while saving image data on the client PC. The user moves from the front of the image processing apparatus to the client PC, instructs the image processing apparatus (or network printer) to output the image data stored on the client PC, and the image processing apparatus (or network printer). This eliminates the need for a complicated act of obtaining the output result until the operability is improved.

  In the first embodiment, the scan capability held in the holding unit of the client PC is updated with the scan parameter specified by the user by transmitting the scanner element change event reflecting the scan parameter specified by the user before the push scan event is transmitted. And made push scan possible.

  However, it is assumed that a pull scan scan request command is transmitted from the client PC that was the push scan destination client PC after the push scan processing is completed. At this time, the client PC scans the scan performance (only the user specified value) that is different from the original scan performance (originally supported scan parameter value / range) due to the scanner element change event in the previous push scan. (Supported) is recognized as the scanning performance of the scanner.

  In this case, for example, when the user tries to execute a scan from an application on the client PC, only 300 dpi can be specified although the original resolution can specify 150 dpi or 300 dpi. That is, in the pull scan after the end of the push scan, there is a possibility that the scan parameter that can be specified by the client PC is limited.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, a scan element change event reflecting the scan parameter specified by the user is transmitted to the client PC as the push scan destination, and the scan performance (supported scan parameter value / range) is limited to perform the push scan. After performing the above, it is necessary to send a second scanner element change event to eliminate the limitation on scan performance (supported scan parameter values / ranges).

  In the second embodiment, the hardware requirements, software requirements, and the like of the scanner are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and only the differences from the first embodiment are described. explain.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic sequence of the push scan that summarizes the present invention in the second embodiment. Since the sequence from step S1001 to step S1008 is the same as that from step S501 to step S508 in FIG. 4, the description here is omitted.

  When the scanning by the reading device 16 is finished and the image data transfer in step S1008 is finished, in order to change the scanning performance recognized by the client PC to the original scanning performance instead of the limited scanning performance, The same information as the information generated as the first information is transmitted only to the client PC as the second scanner element change event (step S1009).

  The operation of the scanner at the time of push scanning that summarizes the present invention in the second embodiment will be described in detail using the basic sequence of FIG. Since the sequence from step S1101 to step S1112 is the same as that from step S601 to step S612 in FIG. 5, a description thereof is omitted here.

  When the scanning by the reading device 16 is finished and the image data transfer in step S1112 is finished, a scan with a restriction different from the original scan performance (supported scan parameter value / range) recognized by the client PC is applied. Performance (supports only user-specified values during push scan). In order to eliminate this restriction, the second scanner element change event is transmitted only to the client PC (step S1113). At this time, the scanner reads the original scan parameters held in the ROM 12 and includes the read parameters in the scanner element change event. Therefore, in the second scanner element change event, the first information “resolution supports 150 dpi and 300 dpi, document type supports TEXT and PHOTO” is in a certain WSD format. It is written in a compliant language format. The client PC that has received the scanner element change event recognizes that the scanner supports 150 dpi and 300 dpi resolution, and that the document type supports TEXT and PHOTO. In other words, when the client PC receives the second scanner element change event, the scan performance held in the holding means is updated, the original scan performance (supported scan parameter values / ranges), and the scanner scan performance. It becomes a state that it is recognized.

Therefore, after step S1113, in the pull scan after the end of the push scan, the scan parameters that can be specified by the client PC are not limited.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the scanner element change event reflecting the scan parameter specified by the user is transmitted to the push scan destination PC to obtain the scan performance (supported scan parameter value / range). After performing a push scan with restrictions, a second scanner element change event is sent. Thereby, in the pull scan after the end of the push scan, there is no restriction on the scan parameters that can be specified by the client PC.

  In this embodiment, the timing of the second scanner element change event is issued after the end of scanning (image data transfer). However, the timing is not limited to this if it is after the first scanner element change event. It may be after the scan response command is transmitted or after a FAULT response to the scan request command.

  Thus, in the push scan to which the present invention described in the first and second embodiments is applied, the push scan with the user-desired scan parameters can be realized without extending the WSD scan service specification.

  In the first and second embodiments, the image data read by the scanner is transmitted to the client PC that has issued the scan request. However, the destination of data after push scan is not limited to this. If it is not necessary to perform image processing on the image data in the client PC or save it in the client PC, other devices may be used. For example, a printer connected to the client PC, a printer designated in advance on the network, or a scanner in the case of a multifunction device may be transmitted to a printer in the apparatus for printing. Furthermore, the transmission destination of the scan data is not limited to the printer, but may be a facsimile, a network, or a storage area in the apparatus.

  Furthermore, a recording medium storing a control program for controlling the image processing system by software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments as an object of the present invention is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU of the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Display part 15 Operation part 16 Reading device 17 ETHERNET (trademark) controller 18 ETHERNET (trademark) cable 19 System bus 20 Application layer 21 Middleware layer 22 Operation system 23 Scanning module 24 HTTP module 25 XML analysis module 26 WSD protocol Module 27 TCP / IP module 28 UDP module 29 OS boot process 30 LAN driver

Claims (9)

The information processing apparatus receives information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus transmitted from the image reading apparatus , and is designated from the reading settings included in the information by the information processing apparatus that has received the information An image reading apparatus that reads an image according to the read setting,
First transmission means for generating, as first information , information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus, and transmitting the information to the information processing apparatus;
A reading setting that includes a reading setting selected by the user with the image reading device among a plurality of reading settings included in the first information and that does not include a reading setting that is not selected is defined as a second capability of the image reading device. Second transmission means for generating the information and transmitting the information to the information processing apparatus;
And a reading unit that reads an image based on a reading instruction according to the reading setting included in the second information transmitted by the second transmission unit and specified by the information processing apparatus. An image reading apparatus. The information processing apparatus further includes designation means for designating one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, and the second transmission means transmits the second information to the information processing apparatus designated by the designation means. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 . It said second transmission means, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that transmitting the second information as the information indicating that the first information transmitted by the first transmission means is changed Image reading device. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first or second information is characterized in that it is produced in a form complying with WSD (Web Service For Device) protocol. The information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus receive information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus transmitted from the image reading apparatus, and are included in the information by the information processing apparatus that has received the information An image reading method performed by an image reading apparatus that reads an image according to a reading setting designated from among reading settings ,
The image reading device includes:
Information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading device is generated as first information, transmitted to the information processing device,
A reading setting that includes a reading setting selected by the user with the image reading device among a plurality of reading settings included in the first information and that does not include a reading setting that is not selected is defined as a second capability of the image reading device. Is generated and transmitted to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A reading instruction according to the reading setting included in the second information is transmitted to the image reading device;
The image reading device includes:
An image reading method for reading an image according to a reading instruction transmitted by the information processing apparatus. The image reading method according to claim 5 , wherein the image reading device designates one of a plurality of information processing devices and transmits the second information to the designated information processing device. The image reading method according to claim 5 , wherein the image reading apparatus transmits the second information as information indicating that the first information has been changed. The image reading method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the first or second information is characterized in that it is produced in a form complying with WSD (Web Service For Device) protocol. The information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus receive information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus transmitted from the image reading apparatus, and are included in the information by the information processing apparatus that has received the information An image reading system including an image reading device that reads an image according to a reading setting designated from the reading settings,
The image reading device includes:
First transmission means for generating, as first information , information including a plurality of reading settings as the capability of the image reading apparatus, and transmitting the information to the information processing apparatus;
A reading setting that includes a reading setting selected by the user with the image reading device among a plurality of reading settings included in the first information and that does not include a reading setting that is not selected is defined as a second capability of the image reading device. Generating information and transmitting the information to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A third transmission unit configured to transmit a reading instruction according to a reading setting included in the second information to the image reading apparatus;
The image reading apparatus further includes:
An image reading system comprising reading means for reading an image in accordance with a reading instruction transmitted by the information processing apparatus.